Reheater.



110.847.713. PATENTBD MAR-,19,1907.,

G. E. WILSON & W". J.-PRAWLEY.

' RBHBATER.

AFPLICAloN FILED FEB. 6, 1906.

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GEORGE E. WILSON ANDv WILLIAM J. FRAWLEY, OF STILLWATER', MINNESOTA.

REHEATgER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented lMarch 1 9, 1 907.

Application filed February 6, 1906. Serial No. 299,803.

.the Yfollowing is a specification.

Our inventionv relates to steam superheaters, and particularly to one designed for use in connection with a cross-compound traction-engine.

Inl the operation ot' a compound engine considerable annoyance and difficulty has been experienced because of the presence of wet steam in the low-pressure cylinder due to the rapid condensation of the exhaust in passing from the high to the low pressure cylinder. By partial expansion in the highressure cylinder the steam loses some of its iieat and elasticity or becomes wet and entering the low-pressure cylinder in this condition materially reduces the power and efficiency of the engine. l

The object, therefore, oi our invention is to provide means for drying or reheating the exhaust-steam of the high-pressure cylinder betere it enters the low-pressure cylinder.

The invention consists, generally, in arranging areheater in the boiler tire-box between the high and low pressure cylinders.

Further, the invention consists in various constructions and combinations all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part oi this s eciiication, Figure 1 is a transverse vertica sectional view of a tractionengine fire-box and a cross-compound engine mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the fire-box, showing the position of the reheater therein. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe reheater removed from the fire-box.

In the drawing, 2 represents the boiler fire-box and 3 and 4 the high and low pressure cylinders of the engine. 5 and 6 represent the steam-chests, respectively, of said cylinders, and 7 is a jacket inclosing the cylinders and forming the subject-matter ot a companion application for United States Letters Patent of even date herewith, Serial No. 289,802.

The high-pressure cylinder has an exhaust-passage 8, leading to a' three-way' valve 9, which communicates with a pipe 10,

leading to the engine-stack, and with a pipe 11, which is extended down beside and through the upper wall of the iire-box. A corresponding pipe 12 is extended through the opposite tire-box wall and leads to the steam-chest 6 of the low-pressure` cylinder. Between the open ends of the pipes 11 and 1.2 and extending transversely inthe upper part of the iire-box is a hollow casting 13 preferably curved slightly from endv to end and having extensions 14 at each end, to which the open ends of the pipes 11 and12 are attached. The casting 13 presents a broad heating-surface to the flames in the fire-box, and the exhaust from the high-pressure cyl:- inder passing down through the pipellA and into the reheater casting will be reheated and become thoroughly dry and regain a very large proportion, it not all, of its normal expansive power. In other words, the wet steam from the high-pressure exhaust will be reheated and delivered to the low-pressure cylinder in a condition which will insure the highest efficiency and power of the engine.

We do not claim, broadly, the idea 'of reheating steam; but we believe it to be entirely novel to reheat the exhaust of a crosscompound traction-engine by locating the heater in the engine {ire-box and compelling the exhaust-steam to pass therethrough on its way from the high to the low pressure cylinder. We do not wish in this application, however, to coniine ourselves to the particular shape or size of the reheater casting or its location in the upper part of the fire-box, as its form may be varied and its position in the lire-box may be changed without materially altering its functions or the result obtained.

The use of this reheater will insure the delivery of the exhaust-steam to the low-pressure cylinder in a very dry state, and prevent, to a considerable degree, the accumulation of water in the low-pressure cylinder and the necessity of opening the cylinder-cocks during the initial operation of the engine.

YVe claim as our invention- 1. The combination, with a traction-engine boiler, of a compoundengine located above said low pressure cylinders having steam-chests and valves therefor, said high-pressure cylinder having an exhaust-passage and a pipe communicating with said passage, said pipe having an inwardly-turned extension at its boiler and comprising high andl ICO lower end projecting through the wall of said boiler into the fire-box, and the steam-chest of said low-pressure cylinder having a pipe communicating therewith at its upper end and provided with an inwardly-turned extension at its lower end also projecting through the wall of said boiler into the firebox, and a receptacle located in the upper part of said fire-box and presenting a broad heating-surface to the flames and having a steam-passage with angled extensions at each end connected with the inwardlyturned extensions of said pipes, the walls of said extensions being opposite the open ends of said pipes whereby the exhaust-steam from said high-pressure cylinder will be retarded as it passes through said receptacle and reheated and dried before its deliver)T to said low-pressure cylinder, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a traction-en-l gine boiler, of a compound engine arranged ,l over said boiler and comprising high and low l pressure cylinders having steam-chests and g valves therefor, said high-pressure cylinder having a downwardly -extending exhaustpassage 8 and a valve 9 and pipe 11 commul nicating with said passage through said valve, said pipe 11 having an inwardlyturned extension at its lower end projecting through the wall of said boiler into the firebox and the steam-chest of said low-pressure cylinder having a pipe l2 communicating therewith at its upper end and provided with an iinvardly-turned extension at its lower end also projecting through the wall of said boiler into the lire-box and a hollow casting located in the upper part of said lire-box and presenting a broad heating-surface to the ends wherein the inwardly-turned extensions of said pipes 11 and 12 are inserted whereby the exhaust-steam from said high-pressure cylinder will be reheated and dried before its delivery to said low-pressure cylinder, 4

substantially as described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 30th day of January, 1906.

GEORGE E. WILSON. WILLIAM J. FRAVVLEY, Witnesses as to both signatures:

S. BLAIR MoBU'ri-r, L. J. HAZENDIN.

ames in said box and having holes in its K.; 

